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Music Matters: Best Pensacola shows of 2014 so far

Michael Smith, pnjmusic@yahoo.com
4:23 p.m. CDT July 10, 2014

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Ashanti Floyd, the Mad Violinist, performs at Vinyl Music Hall with the Symphony Crack Orchestra, named a favorite concert by two Pensacola concertgoers for the first half of 2014.(Photo: Jody Link/GoPensacola.com)Buy Photo

Some amazing artists have played Pensacola this year. Living legends such as Elton John and Barry Manilow shared the local calendar with rising stars and established multi-genre acts. Having passed the halfway mark, area concertgoers shared their favorite show of 2014 so far.

For Ashley Kington and her mother, Trish, a Tallahassee virtuoso won top honors.

"Definitely Mad Violinist," said Kington, a cocktail waitress at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. "He nails every genre on his instrument. He and his crew put on a show that is hard not to watch. He also feeds several generations with older music to newer stuff. He is really talented."

Trish takes full credit for her daughter's choice. After seeing several of his previous Pensacola shows, the Navy Credentialing Program Analyst convinced her daughter to see the Mad Violinist (Ashanti Floyd) and his Symphony Crack Orchestra for the first time. Even though mother and daughter share different musical tastes, they both named his concert at Vinyl Music Hall as their favorite.

"I kept bugging her to go," Trish said. "She immediately loved them. They also covered one of her favorite songs, 'Wake Me Up' (by Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc), and Ashanti crowdsurfed. It was an awesome night."

Local musician and automobile technician Kyle Staples' choice was narrowed down from a heavy year of metal and hard rock acts.

"I have several great shows this year, but I got to go with The House Harkonnen," he said. "Those guys are better every time I see them."

"The Casket Girls," he said. "They have a weird trippy brand of pop music that makes you want to sway back and forth and sing along."

Tara Smith Dominguez chose a Texas alt-rock band's recent concert.

"It was, hands down, Blue October at Vinyl — they were amazing," said the United States Tennis Association 10 and Under target market coordinator. "I was inspired by the crowd and their reaction to the band and the lyrics. So many people knew all of the words to all of the songs. Seeing them up close and personal in a venue like Vinyl was far better than I anticipated."

With upcoming concerts by Wynton Marsalis, Hank III and St. Vincent, 2014 will continue to be a stellar year for live music in Pensacola.

Junior Marvin

Tonight, Junior Marvin plays Vinyl Music Hall, 2 Palafox Place. In the late '70s, Marvin joined music legend Bob Marley and the Wailers. After Marley's death in 1981, Marvin continued making music with The Wailers Band. In 2009, Marvin joined Al Anderson's The Original Wailers.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages event are $15. There is a $5 surcharge at the door if you are younger than 21. For details and to purchase tickets online, visit www.vinylmusichall.com.